Manuscript Studies
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The Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
Bringing manuscript culture, modern technology and people together.
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Announcements and News
- The Fall 2025 issue (Vol. 10.2) of Manuscript Studies is now available in Diamond-level Open Access via Project Muse, as are all previous issues.
- Register for our upcoming SIMS Online Lecture, The Guide to Goodness: An Islamic Medieval Bestseller Copies at Penn and Their Contexts (Ali Noori, Bard Early College and 2025–2026 Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies Visiting Research Fellow), Friday, December 5, 2025 12:00–1:30PM EST (via Zoom).
- Register for our upcoming SIMS Online Lecture, Grid as Ground (Hanna Vorholt, University of York), Friday, February 20, 2026 12:00–1:30PM EST (via Zoom).
- SIMS is pleased to welcome Davide Pafumi (University of Lethbridge) as the 2025–2026 Manuscript Collections as Data Research Fellow. He will be in residence from January 15 to February 16 2026 to work on a project entitled Developing an AI-Based HTR Workflow for the Enrichment of Vernacular English Medieval Manuscripts via eScriptorium.
- SIMS is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2025–2026 Graduate Student Research Fellowship: Priyamvada Nambrath and Eleanor Webb.
- SIMS is excited to announce the following Visiting Research Fellows for the 2025–2026 academic year: Ali Noori (Fordham University), Hanno Wijsman (Institut de recherche et d’histoire des textes), and Emanuele Scieri (University of Glasgow).
- Discover BASIRA, the Books as Symbols in Renaissance Art database, a new digital resource for book history hosted by the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies. Enter the database or visit the project website to learn more.
- Join us every Thursday at 12:00PM Noon EDT / 5pm BST for Coffee with a Codex (via Zoom; registration required).
SIMS Blog Posts
Read about manuscript discoveries, initiatives, and other interesting happenings from SIMS staff.
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Teaching
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Event Series
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Upcoming Events
List
- Workshop
January 20, 2026
Reimagining Illumination: Light in Artist's Books
On Tuesday, January 20, we'll look at the many ways that modern artists make use of light in their book creations - including transparencies, reflections, and electric light.
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Open to the Public
- Workshop
January 21, 2026
Manuscript Studies Interest Group: Recipes
The Manuscript Studies Interest Group (MSIG) is a regular meeting for people who want to get up close and personal with a variety of handwritten objects.
- 2:00pm - 3:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Open to the Public
- Workshop
February 17, 2026
Reimagining Illumination: Make Your Own Illuminated Initial
On Tuesday, February 17, SIMS Curator for Digital Humanities Dot Porter and Program Coordinator of Technology and Play Christine Kemp will lead a workshop where we will make our own illuminated initials on parchment using gold leaf and paint.
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Open to the Public